DARLINGTON captain Steve Foster has laughed off suggestions he is about to leave the club and has reiterated is desire to win promotion with Quakers.

Huddersfield Town were said to be ready to take the Mansfield-born defender to the Galpharm Stadium, but Foster has rubbished the rumours.

He said: “The gaffer has just told me there’s a rumour going around but obviously there’s nothing in it.

“My mam rang me the other day and told me there’s also rumour that I’m going to Mansfield.

“There’s always rumours knocking about but there’s definitely nothing happening.

“I’ve got another 18 months to go on my deal here, I’m captain and I enjoy that position.

“I came here to try and get the club into the next division and that’s still the intention.”

Foster is a key figure at Darlington, the first name on manager Dave Penney’s team sheet, and on Saturday he helped tee up Pawel Abbott’s equalising goal with a marauding run from defence.

Quakers went on to claim their first win since beating Lincoln in November, a game in which Foster was sent off by referee Scott Mathieson who was also in charge on Saturday.

He awarded the late penalty, for a foul on Franz Burgmeier, scored in injury time by Rob Purdie and Foster joked: “Having sent me off the last time he was here perhaps he had to do us a favour this time!

“We haven’t been having much luck in both boxes but maybe we got a bit today.

“Franz lobbed the ball over their defender who then took Franz out. On another day the referee might not have given the penalty.”

Bournemouth proved to be stubborn opposition and for a long time looked likely to secure at least a draw.

But Purdie’s penalty put an end to eight league and cup games without a win and Foster added: “It was pleasing that we kept trying right until the very end and got that win that has been a bit elusive for us recently.”

As well as Liam Hatch’s spell with Darlington being over, the loans of Simon Brown from Brentford and Richie Foran from Southend have now expired and Penney will make a decision early this week on their futures.

If Penney is unable to resign Hatch or Billy Clarke he has not ruled out the possibility of recalling Adam Proudlock from his loan at Grimsby Town.